parasites
Not Exactly Rocket Science
Tag archives for parasites
Rotifers find answer to parasites by blowing on the wind
Posted by Ed Yong on January 28, 2010 When our lives are in danger, some humans go on the run, seeking refuge in other countries far away from the threats of home. Animals too migrate to escape danger but one group – the pond-living bdelloid rotifers – have taken this game of hide-and-seek to an extreme. If they are threatened by parasitic fungi,…
Mud time capsules show evolutionary arms race between host and parasite
Posted by Ed Yong on February 11, 2009 This is the fifth of eight posts on evolutionary research to celebrate Darwin’s bicentennial. Life can sometimes be a futile contest. Throughout the natural world, pairs of species are locked in an evolutionary arms race where both competitors must continuously evolve new adaptations just to avoid ceding ground. Any advantage is temporary as every adaptive…
Japanese moths hit by male-killing virus
Posted by Ed Yong on February 27, 2008 Male insects have a tough time of it. Aside from the usual threats of predators, competitors and the odd hungry female, many are plagued by discriminatory parasites intent on killing them, while leaving their female peers unharmed. These “male-killers” are incredibly successful and infect a wide range of insects, who are themselves a very successful…